The Canada Express Entry system is a streamlined and effective way for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada. Employing a merit-based approach, Express Entry picks candidates who fit what Canada's job market needs and helps them get permanent residency. For UK citizens wanting to move to Canada, this program gives a simple path with many chances in sectors where workers are in demand.

Canada's Express Entry system regularly invites people to apply for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) bases these invitations on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This score ranks people by age, education, job history, and language skills. A higher CRS score means you're more likely to get an invitation to apply (ITA). These invitation rounds usually happen every two weeks. Each round has a minimum CRS score, which changes depending on demand and immigration goals. Express Entry is Canada's main way for skilled workers to immigrate.
It handles applications for three major programs that focus on certain skilled individuals:
Each program uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It gives you points for things like age, education, language skills, and work background. People with the most CRS points get invited to apply for permanent residency. This makes Express Entry a quick way for skilled workers to move to Canada.
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The latest Express Entry draw was held on March 05, 2026, and 250 ITAs were issued. The #402 Express Entry draw invited Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience candidates and a CRS score of 429 to apply for Canada PR.
| Draw No. | Date | Immigration Program | Invitations Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 402 | March 05, 2026 | Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
| 401 | March 04, 2026 | French language proficiency | 5,500 |
| 400 | March 03, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 |
| 399 | March 02, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 264 |
| 398 | February 20, 2026 | Healthcare and Social Services Occupations | 4,000 |
| 397 | February 19, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1 | 391 |
| 396 | February 17, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 |
| 395 | February 16, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 279 |
| 394 | February 06, 2026 | French Language Proficiency | 8,500 |
| 393 | February 03, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 423 |
| 392 | January 21, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 |
| 391 | January 20, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 681 |
| 390 | January 07, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 8,000 |
| 389 | January 05, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 574 |
Canada's Express Entry system is a straightforward way for skilled foreign workers to immigrate.
Here’s what you should know:
Canada plans to invite 2 million immigrants by 2028. The Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026-28 is given below:
| Immigration Class | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Class | 2,39,800 | 2,44,700 | 2,44,700 |
| Family Class | 84,000 | 81,000 | 81,000 |
| Refugees & Protected Persons | 49,300 | 49,300 | 49,300 |
| Humanitarian & Other | 6,900 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Total PR Admissions | 3,80,000 | 3,80,000 | 3,80,000 |
The IRCC updated its category list on February 27, 2025. The categories now include:

For those thinking of immigrating, the CRS Score Calculator is key to figuring out if you qualify and what your chances are under Canada's Express Entry system. To get your estimated CRS score, you'll need to enter information such as:
This score shows how strong your profile is in the Express Entry pool. Keep in mind that the CRS score changes with each draw. Knowing your score can help you decide what to do next to raise your chances, such as getting higher language scores or more work experience.
| 1. Core/Human Capital Factors | ||
| Age | With spouse | Single |
| 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 90 | 99 |
| 19 | 95 | 105 |
| 20-29 | 100 | 110 |
| 30 | 95 | 105 |
| 31 | 90 | 99 |
| 32 | 85 | 94 |
| 33 | 80 | 88 |
| 34 | 75 | 83 |
| 35 | 70 | 77 |
| 36 | 65 | 72 |
| 37 | 60 | 66 |
| 38 | 55 | 61 |
| 39 | 50 | 55 |
| 40 | 45 | 50 |
| 41 | 35 | 39 |
| 42 | 25 | 28 |
| 43 | 15 | 17 |
| 44 | 5 | 6 |
| >45 | 0 | 0 |
| Level of education | With spouse | Single |
| Secondary school (high school) credential | 28 | 30 |
| 1-year post-secondary program credential | 84 | 90 |
| 2-year post-secondary program credential | 91 | 98 |
| ≥3-year post-secondary program credential or a Bachelor’s degree | 112 | 120 |
| 2 post-secondary program credentials (one must be of least 3 years) | 119 | 128 |
| Master’s OR Entry-to-practice professional degree | 126 | 135 |
| Doctorate / PhD | 140 | 150 |
| Language proficiency | With spouse | Single |
| First Official Language (per ability) | Per ability | Per ability |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 or more | 32 | 34 |
| Second Official Language | With spouse | Single |
| CLB 5 or 6 | 1 | 1 |
| CLB 7 or 8 | 3 | 3 |
| CLB 9 or more | 6 | 6 |
| Canadian work experience | With spouse | Single |
| 0 – 1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 |
| ≥ 5 years | 70 | 80 |
| 2. Spouse or Common-law partner Factors | ||
| Level of education | With spouse | Single |
| Less than secondary school credential | 0 | NA |
| Secondary school credential | 2 | NA |
| 1-year post-secondary program | 6 | NA |
| 2-year post-secondary program | 7 | NA |
| ≥3-year post-secondary program or Bachelor’s | 8 | NA |
| 2+ post-secondary credentials | 9 | NA |
| Master’s or professional degree | 10 | NA |
| Doctorate / PhD | 10 | NA |
| Language proficiency | With spouse | Single |
| CLB 5 or 6 | 1 | NA |
| CLB 7 or 8 | 3 | NA |
| CLB ≥ 9 | 5 | NA |
| Canadian work experience | With spouse | Single |
| less than 1 year | 0 | NA |
| 1 year | 5 | NA |
| 2 years | 4 | NA |
| 3 years | 8 | NA |
| 4 years | 9 | NA |
| ≥ 5 years | 10 | NA |
| 3. Skills Transferability Factors | ||
| Education & Language | With spouse | Single |
| ≥ 1 year post-secondary + CLB 7 or 8 | 13 | 13 |
| 2+ credentials + CLB 7 or 8 | 25 | 25 |
| ≥ 1 year post-secondary + CLB 9 | 25 | 25 |
| 2+ credentials + CLB 9 | 50 | 50 |
| Education & Canadian Work Experience | With spouse | Single |
| ≥ 1 year credential + 1 year Canadian work | 13 | 13 |
| 2+ credentials + 1 year work | 25 | 25 |
| ≥ 1 year credential + 2 years work | 25 | 25 |
| 2+ credentials + 2 years work | 50 | 50 |
| Foreign Work Experience & Language | With spouse | Single |
| 1–2 years + CLB 7 or 8 | 13 | 13 |
| ≥ 3 years + CLB 7 or 8 | 25 | 25 |
| 1–2 years + CLB 9 | 25 | 25 |
| ≥ 3 years + CLB 9 | 50 | 50 |
| Foreign Work Experience & Canadian Work Experience | With spouse | Single |
| 1–2 years + 1 year Canadian work | 13 | 13 |
| ≥ 3 years + 1 year Canadian work | 25 | 25 |
| 1–2 years + 2 years Canadian work | 25 | 25 |
| ≥ 3 years + 2 years Canadian work | 50 | 50 |
| Certificate of Qualification & Language | With spouse | Single |
| Certificate + CLB 5 (min CLB 7 in one ability) | 25 | 25 |
| Certificate + CLB 7 in all abilities | 50 | 50 |
| 4. Provincial Nomination or Job Offer | ||
| Provincial nomination | 600 | 600 |
| Job offer (TEER 0 Major 00) | 50 | 50 |
| Job offer (TEER 1, 2, 3 or other TEER 0) | 50 | 50 |
| 5. Additional Points | ||
| Canadian post-secondary credential (1–2 years) | 15 | 15 |
| Canadian credential (3+ years or Master/PhD) | 30 | 30 |
| Sibling in Canada (PR or citizen) | 15 | 15 |

To be eligible for Canada Express Entry, you must score at least 67 points out of 100 under various criteria.
These points are calculated based on the following factors:
Note: Meeting the 67-point threshold is a crucial requirement to proceed with your Canada PR application under the Express Entry system.
Here are the requirements for Canada's Express Entry program:
To start your application for permanent residency in Canada through the Express Entry system, you need to create an Express Entry profile first. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Gather Required Information
Before creating your profile, gather essential documents and information, including:
Ensure that your details are accurate, as they will form the basis of your CRS score.
Step 2: Create Your Profile on the IRCC Website
To start your Express Entry profile, go to the IRCC website and create an account. You'll be asked to fill in information, such as your personal details, education, job history, and language abilities. You may need to provide even more info to complete your application.
Step 3: Complete Your Profile
Please complete your profile with all the necessary info. The system will then figure out your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score using what you entered. Your CRS score shows where you stand in the Express Entry pool. Points are given based on things like your age, education, language skills, job history, and how well you can adapt.
Step 4: Submit Your Profile
Submit your Express Entry profile after filling in all required info and double-checking that everything is correct. After submission, you'll go into the selection pool.
Step 5: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Your profile is now part of the pool for the next Express Entry draw. If your Comprehensive Ranking System score is high enough, you'll get an invitation to apply for permanent residence. After that, you'll have 60 days to send in your full application.
| Express Entry Programs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility factors | Federal Skilled Worker Program | Canadian Experience Class | Federal Skilled Trades Program |
| Language skills (English or French skills) | ✓CLB 7 | CLB 7 if your TEER 0 or 1 | CLB 5 for speaking and listening |
| CLB 5 if your TEER 2 | CLB 4 for reading and writing | ||
| Work Experience (Type/Level) | TEER 0,1,2,3 | Canadian Experience in TEER 0,1,2,3 | Canadian Experience in skilled trade |
| One year continuous within the last 10 years | One year in Canada in the last 3 years | Two years within last 5 years | |
| Job offer | Selection criteria (FSW) points for a job offer. | Not Applicable | A full-time job offer for at least 1 year |
| Education | Secondary education is required. | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| Extra points for your post-secondary education. | |||
| IRCC Time Lines | ECA Credential Assessment: Upon submission of documents to designated authorities 8 to 20 weeks. | ||
| Express Entry Profile: Express Entry Profile is valid for 1 year from the date of submission. | |||
| PR Application: Upon receiving ITA client must submit supporting documents within 60 days. | |||
| PR Visa: Upon submission of PR application the visa processing time is 6 months. | |||
| PR Visa: PR visa is valid for 5 years | |||

An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is an important step in the Canada Express Entry system. Candidates with the highest scores receive an ITA, which means they can apply for Canadian permanent residency. After getting an ITA, you have 60 days to send in your full application. Make sure to include all necessary documents, such as proof of prior work, language test scores, and medical exam papers. If your application meets all the requirements, you'll be granted permanent residency.
What should I do after receiving ITA?
Once you get your Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada Express Entry, here’s what to do:
After you get an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you have to send in your complete application for permanent residency (PR) through Canada's Express Entry system. You'll have to include things like proof that you have enough money, details about your job history, your language test results, and medical exam results.
Once you send everything in, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will check it over. They might approve it or ask for more details.
If they approve it, you and your family will become permanent residents of Canada. Here's a basic list of what you'll need:
The Express Entry application process involves several fees, which are as follows for 2026:
These fees take care of your application processing, background checks, and admin costs. Be sure to visit the official IRCC site to check for added or updated fees about medical exams, police certificates, and federal immigration processing.
| Number of family members | Proof of funds |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,263 |
| 2 | $19,001 |
| 3 | $23,360 |
| 4 | $28,362 |
| 5 | $32,168 |
| 6 | $36,280 |
| 7 | $40,392 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional family member | $4,112 |
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